Marney Cox, San Diego Association of Governments

The national and local economy will, like last year, make small positive gains. Job growth nationwide is expected to average 200,000 per month during 2014, slightly better than 2013. Both the local and national unemployment rates will decline by nearly a full percentage point, reflecting both job growth and discouraged workers leaving the labor force. However, job quality, wage rate increases and average hours worked will remain low, keeping the growth in disposable income and consumer consumption in check, and limiting the rise in GDP to 2.9 percent. Also, rising interest rates will slow increases in the stock market and home prices, and in turn, further restrain consumption.

Yes
55% (29)

No
45% (24)

Phil Blair, Manpower

With the reasonable, slow growth of inflation, GDP and employment, I think we will see a more healthy economy at the end of 2014. Barring an unforeseen catastrophe or war, anywhere in the world, I think we will see a very sustainable continuation of a successful 2013. Consumer confidence continues to rise as more and more Americans get employed, which feeds into more job opportunities for more people. This steady healthy growth in our economy will be a tide rising all boats.

Kelly Cunningham, National University System

With the U.S. staying on course to overspend and borrow from the future, not for investment but continuing to consume, the economy grows ever more vulnerable and subject to much greater and eventual inevitable correction. With the Fed continuing quantitative easing and maintaining low interest rates, the dollar will eventually collapse causing even more damage to the U.S. economy. Creditors will eventually force necessary financial discipline that elected leaders refuse to face. That discipline will result in a sovereign debt and currency crisis sending consumer prices soaring, pushing the economy deeper into recession, and exerting massive upward pressure on interest rates.

Gina Champion-Cain, American International Investments

The domestic political posturing and self-inflicted economic damage of the past two years will continue to decline. Economic growth will maintain its current trajectory or show modest acceleration. Less restrictive lending and underwriting practices will overcome increasing interest rates, making housing starts and development-related industries strengthen. As foreign manufacturing costs increase, new U.S. technologies will be more apt to begin production locally and less likely to "offshore." Washington has begun to aid the manufacturing sector more aggressively, most recently forcing all solar defense purchases to be domestic. Look for similar policies to follow.

Alan Gin, University of San Diego

Growth will still be slower than desirable, but the economy still has positive momentum. The Federal Reserve will slow its quantitative easing, but interest rates will still be low by historic standards, which should continue to strengthen the housing market and the economy. The recent budget deal will ease some of the negative impacts of the sequester and avoid the possibility of another federal government shutdown, which will reduce uncertainty for businesses and consumers. A lower unemployment rate will reduce downward pressure on lower- and middle-class wages, which will also be bolstered by an increase in the minimum wage in many states.